On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Nikhil Kolar, VP, Product & Engineering at Microsoft.

In our discussion, MSG and Nikhil discuss:

— From Amazon and Bing to leading Microsoft’s content ecosystem
— Why publishers need a seat at the AI table this time
— Flipping the bot strategy: only allow the ones that pay you
— The Microsoft Publisher Content Marketplace and fair content compensation
— How agentic experiences are driving conversions two to three times higher
— How to get found and monetize in a world run by agents
— Why ethically sourced content is becoming a business imperative for enterprises
— The future of content compensation as AI consumption scales

And more.

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Guest

Nikhil Kolar

VP, Product & Engineering, Microsoft AI

Nikhil Kolar is Vice President of Product and Engineering at Microsoft AI, driving Microsoft’s strategy to empower publishers build sustainable and durable futures in the human and agentic web. He leads initiatives that empower global publishers to thrive in an AI-first world through innovative monetization models, strategic partnerships, and cutting-edge marketplace solutions. His team focuses on building scalable infrastructure for content and commerce across emerging agentic surfaces, ensuring publishers can operate efficiently and sustainably in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Previously, Nikhil held senior leadership roles at Microsoft in product and engineering for MSN and Bing, where he delivered transformative growth, and at Amazon, where he scaled global video shopping experiences. His career also includes leadership at Oracle and Marchex, and consulting at Strategy&. Recognized for his ability to combine technical depth with strategic vision, Nikhil is a trusted leader in AI-driven monetization, publisher engagement, and digital ecosystem transformation.

Host

Matthew Scott Goldstein (MSG)

Independent Analyst / Advisor / Consultant